The vast majority of IT executives, managers and employees now recognize that business experience is more valuable to their careers than new technology skills, according to a number of survey reports from Wisegate, a peer-based IT advisory firm. As market conditions evolve rapidly, tech professionals are seeking more opportunities to interact with the business side of the house, and they are requesting access to training, education, and on-the-job experience and work challenges. They believe that will help them advance more quickly. That's important to most survey participants, who anticipate making their next upward career move within two years. "IT, as an aspect of business, is rapidly evolving," according to one of the reports, titled "Maximizing Your IT Career: Needed Skills and Next Steps." "It's moving from being seen as a behind-the-scenes cost center to a business-critical aspect of every successful enterprise. And as IT becomes more tightly integrated into the business, the seasoned IT professional is expected to be able to understand the business, communicate with businesspeople, negotiate and even lead." The findings also reveal a number of insights about cultural perceptions with respect to today's organizations, which we've included here. More than 100 senior IT leaders, directors, managers and employees took part in the research.